Iran's intelligence ministry says its forces have detained 27 militants linked to the Islamic State group who planned to carry out terrorist operations in religious cities inside the country.

The ministry says today in a statement on its website, vaja.Ir, that they were identified during an exchange of intelligence with one of the regional services, ahead of President Hassan Rouhani's inauguration.

The report did not say which country Iran exchanged the intelligence with, or mention where they were arrested.

It said 10 of them were detained at a "control center" abroad, and sent to Iran, while 17 others were arrested in Iran.

The ministry added five of them had planned to carry out terror attacks inside Iran and the others were their supporters.

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